AMER WINTER 2018
The live portion of this session begins on Thursday, February 8, 2018.
LOG BOOK FOR THE SHIPS CUMBERLAND AND RARITAN, DURING THE MEXICAN WAR, 1846-1847.This beautifully preserved folio bound manuscript begins June 26, 1846 and ends March 21, 1847. There are about 50 full manuscript pages with day by day details, written for Captain French Forrest with several of his bold signatures throughout. Midshipman Robert B. Storer (1800-1875) was French Forrest's clerk and his name is signed in front of book. There is especially good content as the Cumberland and later the Raritan, both under Forrest's command, were the flagships of the Mexican War "home squadron". Excellent content as seen in few sample pages posted on web concerns blockade, attack and capture of several Mexican coastal cities which should be read. The Cumberland ran aground July 28, 1847 off the coast of Alvarado and the ship was so badly damaged it had to be returned to Norfolk. Her crew, however, stayed behind and swapped ships with the sister frigate Raritan which had been at sea for 3 years and that crew was happy to go back stateside as the crew of the damaged Cumberland. The Raritan continued as the flagship and the text continues without a break, just changing ship name. [b]This is French Forrest's official journal as often in text he signs and approves the content that would be disseminated in copies by his clerk. French Forrest (1796-1866) was a long serving American naval officer from the War of 1812, the Virginia Navy in 1861 and then Confederate Captain and in that capacity raised and rebuilt the Confederate ironclad from the USS Merrimack. Ironically, the first ship to be sunk by the Merrimack was the Cumberland which was his flagship during the Mexican War and subject of this journal. [/b]James Julia Auctions sold Robert B. Storer's previous journal, 1844-1845, for the ship Delaware as Lot 2082, February 4, 2010. SIZE: CONDITION: Fine overall. 13-3/4" x 8-1/2" folio has been well maintained with French wallpaper covers and end sheets, 3/4 leather with raised gold bands on spine. Scuffing and corner wear. Text is fine. 52737-7 JGS (2,000-4,000)